When planning a trip to Tromsø, Norway, one of the most pressing concerns is how to pack appropriately for the Arctic environment. Whether you're chasing the Northern Lights, embarking on a whale-watching expedition, or simply experiencing the unique beauty of the Arctic Circle, packing the right gear is essential. In this guide, we'll cover almost everything you need to know to ensure you're fully prepared for your Tromsø adventure.
Before diving into the specifics of how to dress, it's crucial to understand the climate you'll be dealing with in Tromsø. Situated well within the Arctic Circle, Tromsø experiences long, dark winters and short summers. However, it’s not as frigid as you might expect due to the moderating effects of the Gulf Stream. Winter temperatures generally range between -4°C (25°F) and -10°C (14°F), but the wind chill can make it feel much colder.
In addition to the cold, winter in Tromsø is characterized by Polar Night, a period during which the sun doesn't rise above the horizon, lasting from late November to mid-January. This means you'll have long hours of darkness or twilight, which can be both magical and challenging. Therefore, proper packing is not just about staying warm but also about ensuring comfort during extended periods outdoors.
Well, you don't have to dress for the North Pole where this picture is taken. A good clothing strategy might however save an evening.
Every week during the winter season guides in Tromsø come across guests in more or less inappropriate clothing. We see short skirts, tights, t-shirts, slippers, and high heels. On some nights we have the extra time to let the guests change, but it has happened that we have to leave guests behind and rebook them for another evening due to safety concerns. It is just not safe to travel inland to minus 20 degrees Celcius in Crocs or tennis shorts, and you will not have a good time.
So - a short introduction to appropriate clothing that is not going to leave you broke. And if you have not bought all that you need already, we have both very nice shops in Tromsø, and also a place where you can rent at least the outer layers. You will find the name at the bottom of the post.
It is also important to keep in mind not to overdo the dressing. Being cold is one thing, starting to sweat is another. This is why we stress the dressing in layers part below so that you can leave some clothing in the car if it turns out to be warmer than expected. On the majority of the tours that we do the car will also be reasonably close, and work as a shelter.
Dress in layers. This is the way to dress known by the old polar heroes like Nansen and Amundsen. Going over Greenland Nansen used 7 layers of silk and wool to stay warm. In our experience three to four layers is a good start - it makes it easy to stay warm and also easy to reduce heat by getting out of layers if you want to climb a hill, or just when we are doing the transport part. A t-shirt under a very thick Canada Goose will normally NOT do the trick, but a mid-layer between the wool underwear and the jacket is sufficient.
If you can, use wool close to the body. It is not only inflammable and anti-allergic, but also keeps you warm when getting sweaty. Did you know there was a long battle in the courts to get producers of Fleece (basically plastic) to abandon the name "technical wool"? Wool and fleece are two totally different fabrics - while wool comes from an animal, fleece is made from used bottles or plastic. Wool is the perfect outdoor base layer on all tours during the Arctic winter, and these days most base layer clothing can be bought made from wool.
A mid-layer is also nice. This should be enough to keep you warm when walking. A thick wool sweater is usually nice when having a break, or while waiting for the lights. A cotton hoodie will also work, but remember cotton does not dry very fast and is colder than wool or down. We use an oversized wool sweater with a long neck and usually bring a thin down jacket for the colder days.
A windproof jacket is a must. We always bring it - mostly because on some days you will experience all four seasons in the Arctic. You can get everything from rain to a snow blizzard - be prepared. It is hard to recommend anything - but depending on the season you will need something that can take some rain, snow, and wind. To reuse the example above, a Canada Goose or similar will do the job.
Shoes. Back to the high heels - it´s just not appropriate. Even if you are going on a "big bus" ride - eventually you will have to get out. To get the most out of your excursion you might have to walk into uneven terrain (like 100 meters from the bus to the seaside), and shoes with some grip and waterproofness are more or less mandatory. You have probably already seen examples of heat packs that you can use in shoes and mittens. These usually work quite well, but are a hassle to "assemble and not very sustainable. We are cleaning the beaches from "heat pack season" every spring in some areas. If your feet get cold take your shoes off and massage the feet. If you can't feel your toes tell the guide - they will know what to do.
What about gloves and mittens? It is a great idea to bring at least one pair, maybe even two pairs when staying outdoors in the north. It can be wet and windy, and it is hard to get your hands warm once they have gone ‘cold’. A pair of knitted wool mittens is not only sustainable but normally keeps you warm the whole evening. Unless you are doing photos we don't recommend gloves alone, but a combination of gloves/liners and mittens is a good solution. The feet and hand warmers solution does also apply here.
On your head, you put a wool hat. There is a lot to choose from - the hats and headbands from "Haddock" are local, warm, and a nice memory from Tromsø. You will get them in all the bigger sports stores. A good hat retains about 25% of body heat in an adult, up to 75% for a small child. A baseball cap is usually not enough to keep the ears warm.
If you still get cold, remember to move around. Get blood on your hands and feet by moving them. If you know how to get ketchup out of the bottle by swinging it this is how we get cold fingers and hands working after a night out in cold weather. Getting cold is normally not dangerous, and the shower when you get back home is going to feel so much better. We will of course keep an eye on you on especially cold nights were there are risks of frostbite.
Remember that the coast of Northern Norway is normally not that cold, with an average temperature of about 0 degrees Celsius during the winter. The biggest challenge for many guests flying in is overdressing, and as we see it, being too warm is worse than being a bit cold.
Clothing can be rented in Tromsø. Some guests rent their clothing, and especially shoes when they get to Tromsø. This costs roughly 10 Euro a day and will save you both space and unnecessary shoes back home. Check out www.tromsooutdoor.com for renting opportunities. They also have jackets, pants, mittens, and headwear if needed. At the moment we are also getting more and more thermal suits that we can bring on tour, let us know if you need one and we'll check for your size.
Got any questions? Feel free to ask in the commentary underneath or send us an email.
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